chris thompson's Blog

Jen Edwards of the SWEAT Fitness Studio at Island Playground is featured in Hot ‘n Healthy this week.

Jen is showing us two compound exercises that work our inner thighs, quadriceps, glutes, shoulders, abdominals, obliques, biceps and core. Only two exercises that work most major muscles groups and elevate your heart rate in a matter of minutes. Sweet, huh?

Jen makes it look so easy, but it is not easy to stand on one leg while extending the opposite leg and simultaneously doing a bicep curl. Try it for yourself.

This is an opportunity to raise money for breast cancer prevention and challenge yourself physically. Check out Maureen and Mike Tefft, owners of Bluffton CrossFit, in Hot 'n Healthy to see for yourself.

With TRX suspension training, you are working against resistance from body weight and gravity while hanging from nylon straps. Check out Jennifer Wolfe in Hot 'n Healthy to see for yourself.

Former Navy Seal Randy Hetrick developed the original TRX by hand-stitching parachute webbing. He wanted to make a portable training device for his team to use wherever they were deployed. Now, TRX is a global phenomenon.

TRX requires balance and flexibility to stay suspended in the air while performing functional moves such as push-ups, pull-ups, knee tucks, etc.

It is not what you are thinking, it is about a few simple exercises you can do during the day at work for a quick pick-me-up.

Instead of reaching for a sugary snack or another cup of coffee, check out Jennifer Wolfe in Hot ‘n Healthy. She will show you a quick office workout you can do when energy levels drop. These exercises will get your blood pumping and you can come back to work re-energized and refreshed.

I have been reading about barre exercises in fitness magazines for awhile. It is the get-fit fix of many celebrities. Think Ginnifer Goodwin, Drew Barrymore, Kelly Ripa and Madonna. Love her or not, you have to admit Madonna looks awesome for any age, much less mid-50s.

I can’t wait to do barre exercises and get long, lean muscles and the booty of a ballerina. The hype claims that “clients see results in just 10 classes.” I realize it may take a little longer for me than it would a younger and taller person, but I am willing to wait.

When I go to the beach, I usually eat and drink. And read and sleep. I then repeat the cycle. If that’s your idea of a good time, don’t go to the beach with Roland Allen. But if you want a great workout in a great venue and to learn a lot from an AAAI and ISMA Certified personal trainer, you should attend one of Roland’s beach boot camps at Burke’s Beach. For an idea of what you would be getting into, check out Hot ‘n Healthy.

My daughter is grown and has a child of her own now, so I can come and go as I please. But I remember the days of neglecting my health and fitness because I had no childcare. I would buy DVDs and fitness equipment to gather dust in the closet or under the bed.

If this is your situation, Island Playground near Bluffton can help you out. Island Playground is a place where children have fun playing in a castle or jumping on inflatables while their mom/dad attends an Ultimate SWEAT Camp. Island Playground offers spin, kickbox and a class for butts ‘n gut.

Since we started receiving contributed articles for our Hot 'n Healthy feature from South Carolina personal trainers, I have learned a lot. There are some great fitness instructors in this area and we have received a lot of creative articles with fresh ideas, but I have to say that Daniel Mickel's article today will stay with me. The next time I am mopping floors or washing the car, I may just stop and do some upright rows or shoulder presses.